My starter motor has been making some weird noised for the last few months...

 

Sometimes it starts fine, other times it just sort of makes a grinding/crackling noise (not turning). When it does this, you need to keep trying it.. sort of tapping the key on and off... eventually it engages and starts.

 

Now, it's doing it just about all the time.

 

I take it this means my starter motor is gubbed ? not fixable in any way ?

 

if that's the case...

 

1) where the hell is the thing ? the service manual has a zoomed in line drawing, so feck all use at locating it from that

 

2) is there a source of OEM ones, or remanufactured ones.. or even anyone with a scrap one ?

 

3) how long would it take a mechanic to fit it do u reckon ?

 

stu

the starter motor is located on the driver side, it is attached to the side of the gearbox. the best way to get to it is by jacking the car up an taking the wheel off (driver side front wheel) and sliding underneath the brake caliper, if you look up you should be able to see it clearly.

 

i had the same problem with mine a little wile ago and found that the bolt holding the starter in place had threaded, youl find the reason its probably making that tapping noise is because flywheel is catching on the gaurd plate of the stater motor.

How's your battery? mabe there's not enough juice in it to crank the starter motor? I say this as this what was wrong with mine, a new battery cured all! The starter motor is located underneath the car, towards the frontish. Its simple to take off -just make sure you disconnect the battery! its a little hidden behind a metal gaurd type thing! but really, check your battery first as I thought it was my starter motor but it wasn't. I just got the solenoid clicking noise and as you say about the key on and off got it going at first.

I'm with James. When the battery volts gets a bit iffy with a cell dying and the cold weather hits it you can get fizzing etc rather than a clean start. New battery cures it.

Also a battery is a lot easier and cheaper to change.

 

Take your car down to Halfords, they do a free battery check dont they?

Stu

 

...the starter motor is a big heavy lump and is held on by 2 bolts ONLY. I've removed mine a couple of times (timing belt and waterpump). It's easy to check if one of the bolts has worked loose or stripped the ally that they are screwed into. I had to replace one of mine with a larger diameter bolt, so it's most likly a common fault. Give me a shout and I'll pop round and have a look if you want.

 

cheerz

 

Jack

hmm. battery is only 6 months old. but car has only been

used for an hour every couple of weeks, so this is a possibility then..

 

Just assumed since it started strongly eventually that it couldn't be the battery.

 

I'll charge her up and see if it makes any difference.

 

thanks

 

stu:)

thanks jack.

 

I'll try charging it tonight first. then take it from there.

 

stu

Else a dodgy or loose connection to the battery, the starter motor or even solenoid contact burn in the solenoid can give the high resistance which gives similar effect to slightly iffy and low battery volts.

 

If I left mine a couple of weeks the alarm would drain the battery enough to give the symptoms you mentioned. Now my battery was finally declared dead on saturday as it was a bit chilly and he wouldnt even get out of bed. New one calcium one fitted.

If it does end up being a bad starter motor then let me know. I have a good second hand one.

 

 

Thanks

 

AndyZ (geewhizz@onetel.net.uk)

battery was well flat.

 

However, after a night on the charge, it's still the same, but more

'stronger'.

 

you can here the motor turning, "weeee" noise. it's just not throwing the dog leg out or whatever the hell it does I reckon.

 

could this be the bolt getting in the way do u reckon ?

 

stu

are you sure its not just a tooth missing on the flywheel mine does it some times if its manual move car back in gear slightly and try again or it could b your solonoid

yeh, I think this is likely.

 

I don't know how the thing works, but I thought it might work

like that.

 

hence the flicking ignition on/off quickly dislodged it by sometimes

tapping it a bit.

 

and I did find moving it in gear got it working.

 

I'll try to confirm this tonight.

 

what's the solution to that though ? new flywheel ? bugger.

 

stu

Stu

 

...if it's one tooth missing on the flywheel, the chance of locating that point every time you try and start the car would be minimal, so I'd suggest it's something less awkward. A loose wire on the solenoid would also give you the effect you are talking about. Normally, if the solenoid wire has worked loose, it won't kick the starter into gear, and by rocking the car, the loose wire intermittently makes contact, and the car starts (used to be a common fault on early Saab 900s) - in fact it was the easiest way to disable a Saab if you didn't want it stealing.

 

I'd start by looking for this fault, then the motor working loose, then a faulty / sticking solenoid - and last of all the teeth on the flywheel - although I also know someone who had to replace the flywheel through broken teeth.

 

good luck

 

Jack

soo.. update

 

with jacks help we got the starter motor off and had a good look at it.

 

the rubber dust seal on the solenoid had gone and it was a bit

mucky inside.

 

we gave it a good clean up and tested it on the bench and it appeared to work.

 

However, on reassembly, it still doesn't work.

 

it seems that it just doesn't have enough oomph to pull the

gear out. weird. you'd think a solenoid would either work or not work.. not work weakly...

 

anyway, motor/gears all look fine.

 

the fly wheel is a bit torn on the edges thanks to all off this, but nothing too bad.

 

so it looks like all I need really is a new solenoid... but I don't suppose I can get one from nissan, so it'll have to be a replacement starter and solenoid.

 

andy, I've sent you an email for that starter you've got.

 

stu